Madrid’s finest European night

What a night! Madrid’s best in Europe that I can remember. A night to banish once and for all the ghost of Bayern and rid the stain of so many bad moments at the hands of the Bavarian giant. I’ve spent the entire Champions League thinking that Madrid, Barça and Atleti would last in the competition until they met either each other or Bayern, but when the moment came to pass, Madrid stuffed them. Here in Madrid we were fearful, but beat them with one of several counter-attacks that could have finished with a goal. Over there Real ran riot, with an unimaginable superiority. A show of force.

Football always gives you the chance of revenge they say. Sergio Ramos took his yesterday. Two years ago he sent his penalty against Neuer into limbo and Madrid missed the final of the Champions League. He was teased dreadfully and even Neuer said something he shouldn’t have. Yesterday he got his own back, with two superb headers that decided the game, a sufficient punishment for Neuer and a reward for the glorious moment the Madrid defender is having. He’s outgrowing his role. And then, two from Cristiano, who has 16 in this year’s Champions League, the all time record, and 51 in 50 matches in the competition with Madrid. Two plus two, four. A rout to frame and put on the wall.

A win for Ancelotti, who planned the games wisely, unlike Guardiola, who is in a tight spot after this collapse. The doubts about his style (why did they sign him, I wonder, if they didn’t want this way of playing?) are getting bigger. But that’s none of our business. Ours is the final in Lisbon, with Madrid already qualified and who they will face: Atlético (god willing!) or Chelsea. Nothing would beat seeing a final between the two sides from Madrid. A city has never had two finalists. In Cholo, Courtois, Diego Costa and the rest, we trust. Atleti knows how to, they want to and they can. Go for it!